Spain has launched the new high-speed rail line that operates from Barcelona to Girona and Figueres, close to the French border.
The new 131km stretch of rail line is part of the project to link both the Spanish and French high-speed tracks.
The link is due for completion by April and is expected to take passengers directly from Barcelona to several major French cities without having to change trains.
The Spanish government says the USD4.8 billion stretch of line will shave at least an hour from the normal travel time between Paris and Barcelona.
Passengers will be able to travel from Paris to Barcelona in 6 hours 30 mins, and from Paris to Madrid in approximately 10 hours, although this would involve switching to a new train at Figueres.
